The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-08-19
SHE PAID A GREAT PRICE.
How Miss Robins Won the Man of
Her Choice.
From the NeaO York Times


husband in question is fifteen years older
than the buyer, and the buyer is an attrac-
tive young lady of good social position.
Yet that is the sum which Miss Sarah A.
Robins is said to have paid, and, having got
the man, she chung to him with an infatua
lion which resembles insanity.
Miss Robins is the daughter OF David
Robins, rich and prominent builder OF this
city, who died in 1871, leaving fortune of
about 81 100000, which, after proper pro-
vision had been made for the widow, was
divided equally between Sarah A. and her
brother, Francis F., now stock broker on
Broad street. After tho death of Mr.
Robins the widow and her daughter con-
tinued to live together in the family man
sion, on Fifty sixth street, until September,
1882, when Mrs. Robins died Then Miss
Robins went to the Buckingham Hotel and
lived with her brother and his wife She
was then an accomplished and attractive
young lady of 25, carefully educated and
favorite in society. Like a great many
Young ladies who have nothing to do,
short time before her mothers death she
imagined that she had some nervous trouble
and put herself under the care of Or" j.
G. johnson, Professor OF the massage
treatment
johnson was by no means a cheap prac-
and lived with his wife and daughter in
fine apartments at the Windsor Hotel There
was nothing in his personal appearance
which would be considered attractive to a
Young lady of good social position. He was
tall and gaunt, ill-mannered, uncultured,
and 40 years old. Unlimited assurance and
a ready tongue were his distinguishing
characteristics. The former caused him to
pay his addresses to Miss Robins, and the
latter cansed him to succeed in gaining her
affections. He besought her to marry HIM
and when she told him that she understood
he was married, he replied that he had been,
but. thanks to an Illinois divorce, was a
free man.
Notwithstanding her affection for John
son, Miss Robins had at that time little
-tllScretion left. She was not so ready to
fling away her good name and fame as she
became few months afterward. Going to
the old lawyer and steadfast friend of the
family, James f. Malcolm, she told him of
the affair He at once warned her that in
all probability such divorce, if it existed,
of which he had doubts, would not permit
johnson to make a legal marriage with her,
and he strongly demonstrated against her
espousing man so greatly beneath her in
social station. She seemed to yield to his
arguments and went away.
But Mr. Malcolm did not stop at words
he resorted to deeds. An investigation of
Johnsons circumstances showed that there
was Mrs. johnson and Miss johnson
living with him at the Windsor. Miss
Robins taxed him with the fact, and he
then admitted that Mrs. Johnson had been
his wife, but was so no longer, and that she
was only at the hotel in order that he ght
have the superintendent of their daughters
education Although Miss Robins believed
this yarn, it seemed ''too thin" to her
brother. He called upon Mrs. johnson and
l. L 1N,,x a.A1.
said that she was Johnsons lawful wife,
and that the girl, Connie, was their daugh-
ter. Mr.. Robins placed all this informa-
ton before his sister, and it greatly affected
her She promised her brother that she
would see johnson no more.
She did not for awhile. He went West
Immediately after the expose, leaN l.ig his
wife and daughter at the Windsor. Never
theleSS, johnson and Miss Robins must have
been in constant communication. He was
gone several months, and during this period
Mr. and Mrs Robins did all in their power
to wean their sister away from him. They
believed they had succeeded She went into
society, and was the same charming and
light-hearted girl as of yore. This was only
masquerade. One day she announced
that she was going to Europe. Nothing
could stop her. She was of age and the
mistress of more than half a million. She
went, and johnson was passenger on the
same steamer.
This was in July, 1888. Her friends heard
that she and johnson were living together
in London, where they claimed to have been
married, and that a child was born to them,
which only lived a short time Meanwhile
tho first and real Mrs. Johnson and her
daughter lived in New York, boarding ex-
pensively at the Murray Hill Hotel, and
Mrs johnson told everybody who cared to
know that the money which paid her bills
came from her husband in London.
Presently Mr.. Malcolm discovered that
some queer proceedings We're on loot. he
heard that Charles II. Reed-Guiteau'S
lawyer--was mixed up with them as the
counsel for Miss Robins. Why Miss Robins
should have any legal connection with such
matters was not clear to Mr. Malcolm. 80
he went to Reed for information. Reed
frankly told him that in behalf of Miss
Robins be had offered to pay Mrs. johnson
so, 900 if she would get divorce, but that
she demanded 100000, and the negotla-
tons We're likely to fall through. They did
not fall through, however. Mrs. johnson
went TO Chicago, and in July, 1886, the pa
pers of that city announced that divorce
had been granted to Augusta B. johnson
from j. g. johnson for desertion, and that
the homestead, at Bloomington, lD.-which
town is said to be Johnscn's birthplace
worth S25, 600, and the custody OF their
daughter Connie, aged il, were given TO the
petitioner. How much money she got from
Miss Robins for this has not yet been ascer-
tained-but Mr.. Malcolm and Mr. Robins
have reason TO believe that it was all she
demanded-$l00, 900.
About two months before this divorce
was granted johnson and Miss Robbins re-
turned to New York That they were
coldy received by her relatives can easily
be believed They only staid here about
three months, during the last of which, af-
ter Mrs Johnson's divorce was granted,
they say they were married by clergyman
Early last fall they went to Centre Rutland,
Vt, where they now reside. A child was
born to them last fall which is still living:
After getting her divorce Mrs. johnson and
her daughter returned to this city and
boarded at the Murray Hill Hotel until the
opening of summer, when they went to Eu-
rope. They are there now, but their return
Is expected III the fall
All these facts came TO light yesterday,
by means of Judge Donohue, in Supreme
Court Chambers, in regard to the reference
of a suit which Mr.. Malcolm has brought
against Miss Robins, or Mrs. johnson
whichever she may be-to recover about
$4,000 for legal services. Mr. Malcolm
says his services were important. relating
chiefly to tho care Of her estate aud consist
aU..r Alaa coll